BJP to frame national policy for rehab of refugees: Rajnath

BJP president Rajnath Singh addressing an election rally at Udhampur on Tuesday. -Excelsior/K Kumar
BJP president Rajnath Singh addressing an election rally at Udhampur on Tuesday. -Excelsior/K Kumar

Avtar Bhat
UDHAMPUR, Apr 15: Expressing his concern over the plight of West Pakistan refugees in the State who have been denied the citizenship rights even after 67 years, BJP national president, Rajnath Singh today asserted that after his party comes to power at Centre it will frame a national refugees policy for their rehabilitation.
Addressing an election rally at Sports Stadium here this afternoon, the BJP president said that refugees’ problem is because of Article 370 which has given special status to the State.
Raking up the issue of Article 370, he said, “killing of Panchs, Sarpanchs and other innocent people in the State is because of this Article’’,.
“Had this Article not been there, the killing of Sarpanchs, Panchs and Gram Sevaks would have not taken place. Moreover the implementation of 73rd amendment of Indian Constitution was delayed because of this Article’’, he added.
He said “I want to tell the rulers of J&K, if you want to continue the Article 370 , first ensure security and safety of the Panchs, Gram Pradhans and common people. First save them and ensure them full guarantee about their security and safety, then find some reason to keep the Article 370’’, he added.
Rajnath said no attention was paid during 55 years of Congress rule to solve the problem of West Pak refugees who have been denied the citizenship rights till date. They have been denied right to vote also, he added.
He announced that framing of national refugee policy after coming to power will be first and foremost task of BJP Government at Centre.
Highlighting the problems of farmers in the State in general and Udhampur district in particular, Mr Singh said that he has got a feed back that farmers are facing multiple problems here as they have no proper facilities of irrigation etc.
The BJP chief said that his Party after coming to power at Centre will implement the agriculture policy framed during his tenure as Union Agriculture Minister.
Under this policy, the assessment of farmers crop  before ploughing of land will be made by Government and the crop will be insured. In case of any damage to the crop due to natural calamity, the compensation will be paid on the basis of assessment of crop made before ploughing of the land by the Insurance Company, he added.
The 75 percent of premium of insurance will be paid by Central Government while 25 percent will be shared by State Government and farmers, he added.
The BJP stalwart said that after taking over in 2004 the UPA Government hailed the policy but to the chagrin of hapless farmers of this country, it never implemented the same later.
He announced that soon after coming to power, BJP will implement this policy in letter and spirit to provide succor to farming community in the country.
Making a scathing attack on Congress led UPA, he said history is witness that whenever Congress came to power prices touched sky. This was because Government run by the Party indulged into corrupt practices, he added.
He said the nation got relief from rising prices which were under complete check and control during six years rule of Atal Behari Vajpayee from 1998 to 2004. Despite the sanctions from developed countries including US for Pokhran blast, the prices remained under constant check during Vajpayee’s rule, he added.  Even the prices remained under check during the Kargil war though lot of burden was put on country’s economy due to this conflict, he added.
Mr Singh said after agriculture the trading community is backbone of the country’s economy and they too are hard pressed under the burden of taxes. He made it clear that till relief is given to traders from extra taxes the Indian economy will continue to suffer.
Terming the Pokhran blast a great achievement of Vajpayee Government, he said despite the US and other developed countries opposition, BJP Government went ahead with Pokhran and surprised the entire world.
Rajnath said price rise has created a strange situation in the country and now there is a change of wave and all agree that BJP will get a clear majority. Even the foreign countries have accepted the same, he added.
Lambasting the Congress which out of 67 years ruled the nation for 55 long years, he said despite having ample resources India is still a poor economy.
The BJP leader said that he has not come here to seek vote to frame Government only but building a strong nation.
Criticising the weak -kneed policies of UPA Government, he said BJP wants to have a good neighbourly relations with every country but if any nations browbeats us that will not be tolerated.
While referring to China’s incursion in Indian territory he said the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh instead of asking China to pull its troops and vacate Indian land signed an agreement with China in October 2012. He said when BJP comes to power it will review the same.
He said “likewise Pakistan has been making violations on border, sends armed desperados inside and beheads our soldiers and Government is watching helplessly which BJP will not tolerate at any cost’’.
Criticizing the UPA chairperson, Sonia Gandhi and Congress vice president, Rahul Gandhi, he said do they think Indian soldiers are weak and hence they don’t give free hand to them. “If our soldiers are given a free hand they will teach Pakistan a lesson’’ he added.
Maintaining that Udhampur is an important town of the State, he regretted that this town sans facilities and there is no Medical College, no technical and agriculture institute and people continue to face many problems.
He said no steps were taken for modernization of the town. The youth of the State after education are frustrated for jobs as there are no avenues for the same. He assured that after coming to power BJP will provide skill development training to youth to start their own business and earn livelihood. For this purpose the youth will also be provided low interest loan to establish business, he added.
Appealing people to save nation which is passing through a crucial phase by voting and supporting BJP, he said Narendra Modi the Party’s Prime Ministerial candidate is a trusted and tested leader.
Terming all allegations of communalism against him baseless, he said this is being done by party rivals to turn the people’s attention from progress and development.
He said as he had remained the UP Chief Minister no CM would like that anarchy should prevail in his State. Despite making political and personnel attacks on Modi by his opponents, he is emerging stronger and powerful, Mr Singh added.
Maintaining that BJP does not believe in communal and caste politics, he said it is not a party which is for framing the Government only but for building a strong nation.
Turning tables on Congress, he said Mahatma Gandhi after freedom movement had suggested disbanding of the Party and framing of another political outfit to rule the nation but it was not agreed.
“But I am hopeful now the people will fulfill Mahatma’s dream by dislodging Congress from political scene of the country’’, he added.
Justifying Party’s decision to grant mandate to Dr Jitendra Singh, he said that this decision was taken after a good thinking by senior leadership as Dr Singh is a capable person with qualities of head and heart and party leadership is highly impressed with him.
He made an appeal to the people to ensure his victory and people responded with thundering applause and by raising slogans Jitendra Singh tum aagay bado hum tumaray saath hain  (Jitendra Singh you march ahead we are with you).
Earlier addressing the rally Dr Jitendra Singh said that people are pining high hopes on BJP as they have been cheated over these years.
He said that Udhampur is very vast constituency with varied climate and culture and people here have multiple problems. He assured them that after coming to power BJP will not let the people of this remote Constituency down and take their problems on priority basis.
Maintaining that the victory of BJP is certain, he expressed apprehensions that the coalition out of frustration may try to do bogus voting in upper reaches and far-flung areas about which the EC has also been intimated by the Party.
He appealed the people to press button Number 2 on April 17 and ensure his victory at the hustings.
Jitendra Singh said “this is not a simple election but a challenge after 65 years as our ancestors have laid down their lives for the democracy and it is our duty to create such a set up where every one is happy and have ample opportunities of employment and there are no problems of water and power scarcity’’.
In his welcome address BJP senior leader Pawan Gupta termed Rajnath Singh as Chankiya of Indian history who brought Narendra Modi on centre stage of Indian politics as Chankiya did in case of Chander Gupt Moriya.
Pawan Khajuria BJP State secretary also spoke on the occasion and appealed people to vote Dr Singh.
Dr Darakhshan Andrabi president SDP who for the second time shared dais with BJP leaders today expressed the hope that with the taking over of Mr Modi as PM the process of restoring peace on the Vajpayee formula will be started again.
Others who addressed the rally included Ashok Khajuria, BJP Legislative Party leader, Satish Sharma, Kavinder Gupta, Priya Sethi etc. The BJP Prabhari for J&K and MP Avinash Rai Khanna, BJP state president Jugal Kishore Sharma, former president Dr Nirmal Singh, Prof Hari Om, MLAs Baldev Raj Sharma, Bharat Bushan, Ch Sukhnandan, Party general secretary, Rajiv Jasrotia, Party leader and retired IGP Farooq Khan, Munish Sharma, Dina Nath Bhagat, Bansi Lal Bharti and several others were present on dais.
Earlier Jat Kalyan Sabha president Kamal Choudhary, Sham Langer of CCI, Jammu and Subash Gupta a social activist joined BJP in presence of Raj Nath Singh.

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